Embrace and use your imposter syndrome as an independent lawyer

Leaving the relative comfort of the structured path that is Big Law can leave many lawyers feeling lost or inadequate. When you can learn to move past your imposter syndrome as an independent lawyer, new opportunities reveal themselves.

Why lawyers feel like imposters

At its basic level, imposter syndrome shows up for professionals who feel “less than” despite their education, experience and track record of success. It can seem like everyone else has it together and understands some secret code that we missed. In the high-stress and often high-stakes world of law, that feeling can grow for many of us.

This legal services firm describes the impact of the imposter syndrome that many lawyers feel:

“Imposter syndrome can lead to stress, burnout and decreased confidence, which can affect job satisfaction, productivity and mental health. It may also make attorneys hesitant to take on new challenges, ask for help, or pursue advancement opportunities, fearing they are ‘not ready’ or ‘not good enough.’ Over time, this can hinder professional growth and contribute to a cycle of self-doubt.”

Constantly comparing yourself to others in your field can have a devastating impact on your sense of self-worth and accomplishment. It can also prevent you from leaning into your unique strengths and choosing to do things differently or to innovate.

Business ownership adds its own layers of doubt

For independent lawyers running a law firm on their own, those feelings of doubt can amplify.
In addition to practicing law, independent lawyers often have to make business operations decisions that can feel new and daunting.

This investor and entrepreneur offers some advice for reframing the imposter syndrome you feel as a business owner:

“The essential truth of imposter syndrome is that the dizzying sense of self-doubt can be jarring, but if you strip back the unpleasantness, it tells you something important: You’re challenging yourself, pushing boundaries and breaking free of your comfort zone. To succeed in business, each of these is vital.”

Discomfort often accompanies change, and that applies to every business owner attempting to create something new and build a new version of success.

How to use imposter syndrome to your advantage

That Entrepreneur magazine contributor also discusses how he began to view his imposter syndrome as a “strategic asset.” He offers these tips:

  • Accept mistakes and failures as learning opportunities. Making a mistake does not mean you don’t have what it takes to deliver.
  • Listen to your inner critic. Don’t allow that inner voice to undermine your sense of worth or motivation, but listen to its prompts on how you can improve.
  • Find others who can listen and guide you. When you reach out to other business owners, you begin to realize that your feelings are common. These people can also offer sage advice based on their real-world experience.

This simple reframing of imposter syndrome as a source of wisdom and information can help you move past it. As you do, you will discover more of your unique strengths that can, in turn, become valuable assets for your business and your clients.

Why finding your people makes such a big difference

In addition to the sage advice above from business owners who have been there, we can’t stress enough how a trusted professional community can make a huge difference.

When you have people around you who also have grand goals and who have experienced the realities of starting a business, you feel less alone. You also have a group of people who completely understand the challenges and sense of uneasiness that comes with trying something new.

A coworking space gives you one great option for connecting with other business owners who can help ease your doubts and offer support. Soon, you will begin to feel more confident in your skills and what you have to offer clients.

Ready to embrace your strengths as a law business owner and take on new challenges alongside a community of likeminded independent lawyers? Reach out to us to learn about our shared office communities for lawyers in Denver.